Career Timeline of Aaron Judge: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Aaron Judge, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Aaron Judge is a prominent American professional baseball right fielder for the New York Yankees. Recognized for his exceptional talent and imposing stature (6'7", 282 lbs), Judge is a six-time MLB All-Star and a two-time American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP). He notably holds the American League record for the most home runs in a single season with 62, solidifying his status as one of baseball's elite power hitters.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1921: Breaking Babe Ruth's Record

On September 30, Aaron Judge hit his 52nd home run of the season and his 33rd at Yankee Stadium, surpassing Babe Ruth's single-season record (set in 1921) for most home runs hit by a Yankees player at his home ballpark.

2010: Drafted by Oakland Athletics

In 2010, Aaron Judge was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 31st round of the MLB draft, but he chose to attend California State University, Fresno instead.

2011: Fresno State Success

In 2011, Fresno State shared the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular season title, won the WAC Tournament, and qualified for the NCAA Division I baseball tournament. Aaron Judge was also named a Freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger.

July 2012: Joined Mountain West Conference

In July 2012, between his sophomore and junior seasons, the Fresno State Bulldogs joined the Mountain West Conference (MW).

2013: Drafted by the Yankees

In 2013, Aaron Judge was selected by the New York Yankees with the 32nd pick in the first round of the MLB draft after playing college baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs.

2013: Signed with Yankees and Injury

In 2013, after being drafted by the Yankees in the first round, Aaron Judge signed with the team and received a $1.8 million signing bonus. However, he tore a quadriceps femoris muscle during a base running drill, preventing him from playing in the 2013 season.

2014: Professional Debut

In 2014, Aaron Judge made his professional debut with the Charleston RiverDogs and was later promoted to the Tampa Yankees during the season.

2015: Spring Training Invitation and All-Star Futures Game Selection

In 2015, Aaron Judge was invited to spring training by the Yankees and began the season with the Trenton Thunder. He was later promoted to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and was chosen to play in the 2015 All-Star Futures Game.

August 13, 2016: MLB Debut and Home Run

On August 13, 2016, Aaron Judge made his MLB debut, hitting a home run in his first at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays. Tyler Austin, his teammate, also hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat in the same game.

2016: MLB Debut

In 2016, Aaron Judge made his Major League Baseball debut for the New York Yankees.

2016: International League All-Star Team Selection

In 2016, Aaron Judge was named to the International League All-Star Team but did not participate in the All-Star Game due to a knee sprain.

2017: End of the 2017 Regular Season

Aaron Judge finished the 2017 regular season with a .284/.422/.627 slash line, leading the AL in home runs, runs scored, and walks. He also struck out an MLB-leading 208 times.

2017: Postseason Performance

In 2017, Aaron Judge and the Yankees clinched a Wild Card in the MLB postseason. Judge hit a home run in the Wild Card Game, robbed a home run in the AL Division Series, and hit three home runs in the AL Championship Series. He finished the postseason with 27 strikeouts, a major league record at the time.

2017: AL Rookie of the Year

In 2017, Aaron Judge won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year award by unanimous vote and finished second in AL MVP voting. He also hit an AL-leading 52 home runs and became the first rookie to win the Home Run Derby.

2017: Home Run Derby Win

In 2017, Aaron Judge won the Home Run Derby, defeating Miguel Sanó in the final round. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred suggested that Judge could "become the face of the game" after this performance.

2017: Longest Home Run of the Season

On June 11, 2017, Aaron Judge went 4-for-4 with two home runs, with one of the home runs traveling 495 feet, making it the longest home run hit in the 2017 season.

2019: Defensive Recognition

In 2019, Aaron Judge had a .272/.381/.540 batting average with 27 home runs. He also led the league in defensive runs saved as a right fielder and earned the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for his position.

2019: Home Run Over Green Monster

On September 8, 2019, Aaron Judge hit a home run over Fenway Park's Green Monster, contributing to the Yankees setting a new franchise record for team home runs in a season.

2020: Injuries and Shorter Season

In 2020, Aaron Judge began the season with a five-game home run streak. However, he was placed on the injured list twice due to a right calf strain and finished the season with a .257/.336/.554 slash line in 28 games.

September 20, 2022: Judge Hits 60th Home Run

On September 20, 2022, Aaron Judge hit his 60th home run of the season against Wil Crowe of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium, becoming the third MLB player in American League history to reach this milestone in one season and the fastest Yankee to do so in 147 games.

December 20, 2022: Yankees Sign Judge to Record Deal and Name Him Captain

On December 20, 2022, Aaron Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million deal with the Yankees, breaking the record for the largest free agent deal in MLB history. In a press conference the following day in December 2022, he was named the 16th captain of the Yankees, the first since Derek Jeter's retirement.

2022: Re-signed with the Yankees

Following the 2022 season, Aaron Judge re-signed with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360-million contract and was named the team's captain.

2022: First MVP Award and AL Home Run Record

In 2022, Aaron Judge won his first MVP award after setting the American League single-season home run record, breaking the 61-year-old record held by Roger Maris.

2024: Second MVP Award

In 2024, Aaron Judge won his second MVP award by unanimous vote, leading MLB in home runs and OPS while becoming the fastest MLB player to reach 300 career home runs. That postseason, the Yankees won their first AL pennant in 15 years.

April 14, 2025: Named Captain of Team USA

On April 14, 2025, Aaron Judge was named captain of Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He expressed his excitement for the opportunity to represent his country.